The name DAN SWANÖ is surely familiar with most of you reading this, but a little introduction will not do any harm. He plays/sings with EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, UNICORN, PAN-THY-MONIUM, recently THERION (anything else DAN?!!) while UNDER BLACK CLOUDS, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, DIABOLICAL MASQUERADE and DISSECTION are among the army of bands produced by him....... Now, we could either dedicate to him an entire scene report or do an interview with him. We choose the second one…By the way, this interview was done some time ago(3 months or so..), so I had to send a couple of update questions which DAN answered shortly after. I decided to keep all the questions and arranged them in a certain order, since I felt that the ‘old’ questions were still interesting…
Hi Dan, Good Morning. Welcome to the Show. Have a seat and feel free to start the interview the way you want.
Hello Malta!! World premiere for my written word in a Maltese magazine and do you know what!!?? IT FUCKING RULES!!! I’ve been in contact from Egypt, Borneo, Israel, Siberia and God knows where...Thanks to all of you who still listen to my/our stuff... you all make life worth living!! On with the action, and by the way, it’s night !!
You started your first band ghost back in 1983. Lots of things happened since then, so, if we compare music to a tree it has actually grown lots of branches since then. You have experimented with quite a variety of styles. How has Dan Swano changed and evolved through those years? And how do you feel about all these changes?
I guess I have always been in a lot of projects at the same time, it is just a part of my whole personality. I like to plan my days and my future in detail so that every minute is used to the max. When I was 6 years old ,me and my 2older brothers Dag & Ingjald formed THE FORDZ where I played organ and sung my own tracks written in some childish version of English that was a mixture of words that existed, but in a slightly different grammatical way and totally "home-made" words, which later had a revival in PANTHYMONIUM. Already around that time I started to mess around with different people playing different forms of music. I had a solo thing called LASSE LISA a band called ZTUREX and then I formed OVER ALL KINGS with Anders Mareby who I later formed GHOST together with, and this band is still existing in a way, we never officially put the band to sleep, we just brought in more members and we felt that we needed a more accessible name we changed to ICARUS, but we never "killed" GHOST. My brother Dag have always been my biggest influence. I see myself as the shadow of him, but it’s so sad that he never got the recognition that he deserves after so many years of skilful musicianship. I owe everything to him. Around the time when ICARUS turned into UNICORN I started to mess around with EDGE OF SANITY and just before that I played in a band called BREJN DEDD which was pretty serious if you look at gigs, rehearsals, demos and stuff but musically we were unserious, but good......I played drums there by the way .IT from ABRUPTUM did the vocals. Me and IT also had projects like TARJANTULLE and later on PULTNARP. We had a great deal of fun together in the "old" days but life goes on, people change. I also had a solo death metal band called MORTIFY where initial versions of the early EDGE OF SANITY were written. I recorded two songs that is mixed, "Prey to the forces unknown" and... ehhr...forgot the title...I was also involved in a band called SLUMLORD, we did some cool stuff. Me and the bass player from SLUMLORD once recorded a demo with our noise band ; PICTUREANASSFULLOFPEDESTRIANSFROM- THETWILIGHTZONEINDISGUISE but it was never officially released, even though we received some airplay, though most of the listeners must have thought that the radio fucked up!! Shit, this could go on forever basically... you are what you are, I like changes. .That’s why I have all these bands. I am so glad that there are people that are turned to my frequency musically.......
If I’m not wrong, as a young boy, you had plenty of musical encouragement, which reflects on your present. Will you give the same encouragement to your son, John?
My son is already extremely talented, for only being almost 3 years it is scary. He is possessed by music and he has a very focused ear for notes and chords. He’s got rhythm big time and I will try to help him develop his musicality as much as possible, but if he rather play golf or study hippos I’ll gladly support him with this.
Nightingale’s music is very emotional; Edge Of Sanity’s Aggressive, Pan-Thy-Monium strange while Unicorn reflects the most mature part of you as song-writer. So musically speaking, these are all parts of the same puzzle. Do you actually write a Edge Of Sanity song when you re angry, Pan-Thy-Monium when you feel bizarre or what? Has it ever happened that you’re in a good mood and written a sad or angry song?
My great problem is that I never really know how to separate the projects when it comes down to writing material. I just have to write new EDGE OF SANITY material for the new album but I end up writing new, excellent UNICORN tracks instead and we haven’t planned to record the next record until maybe 98. The same with my solo album, I started to write for EDGE OF SANITY...instead but when I feel the pressure I write better than ever for the right project, but that means three to five before the studio time will begin...stress?!! I love stress!! Taking it easy, is equal to wasting your life!! I think I tend to colour the material a lot depending on how I feel at the moment. But I must be happy to write any kind of material. I can never write when I am "low" then it all turns out complete shit. PANTHYMONIUM was always written when right before that we pushed the record button, so that was never a part of my home-writing. The 1st. NIGHTINGALE was also put 100% a studio record. I don’t like to write from scratch in the studio, I prefer to write the backbone of the track at home on piano or guitar and then let it come to life in the studio, but I find it hard to write surrounded by all that technology...
Edge Of Sanity s release, "Crimson" is a 40 minutes concept album, in just 1 track, taking place in a post Apocalyptic scenario; excellently structured, and its frequent changes in tempo and style is an excellent prevention against boredom. (Personally I just love it -ed.) but don’t you think you took a fair amount of risk with a good amount of listeners? (Especially those who stick to a couple of songs - Remember in ‘VOICES 7’ what you told FRANK about NIGHTINGALE??)
I don’t remember what I told to my good friend FRANK in V.F.T.D.#7 but I do know that I talk a lot of rubbish sometimes! When it comes down to "CRIMSON" and all around that release all I can think of is pain and confusion. Writing such a record wasn’t easy in the end. Coming up with the initial ideas were a piece of cake but finishing the arrangements and coming up with a suitable lyric was living hell. We chose the 1 track concept since it would cause a blur around the release and not just let it fly by like any other release. I don’t really care about the normal kind of metal kids. I see our music from different perspective than for example the Florida Death bands may do. E.O.S. is from now on a METAL band with a great deal of interest in making weird and brutal in the most accessible form, not necessarily Death Metal. The 4 songs I have written for the next album, maybe called "DIFFERENT VISIONS", are really varied and strange. Some titles are "Family Business" (dealing with incest) "Forever Together Forever" Siamese Twins) and a slow emotional track called "The Last Song" (about creative paranoia). We will never write with the listener in mind. If I could choose all my records should be one track so they listen to it all in a row. It’s like a movie you may miss the point of certain tracks since you need the ones before and after to get the balance ....death to Shuffle-play or Random play or what ever.....vinyl rules!
Let’s carry on with Crimson. The whole story is indeed a good sample of fiction, literature; quite intriguing and not short of interest. Have you ever considered of writing novels?
Since I hardly read books ( Except of manuals for my technical stuff, which I can consume over and over again). We had the most boring time writing the lyrics for "Crimson" and I wish it would have been easier to write lyrics, but I enjoy writing songs, but I hate writing the lyrics, since I don’t feel that I have something to say except for what’s already been said before.
The new EOS CD "Infernal" takes EOS to the old "Unorthodox" tradition, since it's heavier and more aggressive than the last 2 albums. You had made this preposition (of returning to a more aggressive EOS) right after Purgatory Afterglow, if I'm not wrong, what led to this ?! Any pressure from BLACK MARK ?! And how was the co-operation with Peter Tagtgren?
No. I Think BLACK MARK Would nave liked to see us getting a lot more accessible but this is not the way things work.. We write what we feel is right and we get inspired by our lives at that time. I was happy when I wrote these songs and you can hear it ! Not too much Death & Darkness! PETER TÄGTGREN simply Rules this Planet
Once in an interview about Nightingale you said, "I want to stick to my roots and to my vision".....So Dan what are your roots and your vision?
The perfect combination of sound, harmony, rhythm and feeling. I have not recorded that album yet, one of the keys are always missing. I keep finding ways to fulfil my musical vision, but it is hard.
Was "The Closing Chronicles" recorded in the same environment and situation of "The Breathing Shadow" ? (Locking yourself in the studio etc.)
No T.C.C. was recorded in Unisound after I moved to Orebro and I used Tom Nouga as a co-producer for the songs, except for the vocals which I produced alone. He was very good in finding new ways for my, sometimes, standard arrangements of my tracks. I played real drums all the way thru, he played bass all the way thru, I played far more constructive keyboards than on T.B.S. where it worked most as an ambient thing in addiction to the weird guitar sound. I really haven’t listened much to it since I feel it is already far behind me, now I am writing for the 6th. E.O.S. album, the 3rd UNICORN and the 1st. INFESTDEAD CD as well as I try to have some ‘non band’ ideas laying around as well, good for strictly personal satisfaction.
The new Nightingale is less Gothic and more Rock. 70's influences are quite evident and strong. How will be the 3rd NIGHTINGALE ?! Will Mr. Nouga be featured again ? I think he did a great job !!
Mr. Nouga surely is a fine producer and a helluva Bass-player but I will make the third album alone since this will be the album before the first album. So "The Breathing Shadow" is the second album. Get me?? This will probably be called "I", simple and straight! This one will be hard and dark and experimental and weird and built up for the style of the first album.
During the same interview, you said that the studio is your dominion, and I don’t have any doubts about this . How and when did you decide to put up Unisound Studios? Did you regret it ?
Unisound kinda grew from being a rehearsal room for Unicorn into being a studio for bands from all over Europe without me really taking notice, it all happened very fast. I heavily regret that I changed my gear at one time. I had a killer sound coming but I fucked it all up and I feel I haven’t quite catched up since then. I started to think more about rules and regulations than if the sound was good or bad which I consider to be my biggest mistake in the studio business so far. NEWS!! Unisound is dying!! from the 1st. February 1997 there will be no more records recorded there! I am really pleased with this decision and most people understand me when I explain it to them. I will start working in a music shop selling keyboards and digital stuff like computers, hard-discs and recording work-stations. I will sell the biggest part of the equipment and keep enough to be able to record albums with Unicorn and Infestdead and make personal demos with E.O.S. and Nightingale. Since I took the final step I have written an ocean of high class material for all my projects, it’s like my subconscious is thanking me for losing the night & day responsibility for the band’s future. I feel that I have destroyed a lot of potential killer albums by my temporary fuck ups. Sorry guys.
Being an all round musician/song writer and producer (as well) I guess little time is left to share with your family and friends. Maybe this is the moment when you regret your choice ?
I never had a chance to meet any real friends except for people I play with so I never really regret that part of it. I have a wife and child and I spend all my spare time with them. The biggest problem is that I never get off my day time job, I spend evenings with the bills, faxing invoices and spend endless hours on the phone talking to client who either wants a remix or a new time etc. When I start my new career it will be over 18:00 and start again 09:00 nothing more. Maybe I have to travel to Roland or Sony a couple times to learn more about some products but that’s fun.
Well, a question about Unicorn now. I consider your latest album "Emotional Wastelands" an amazing album. Yet, Mellow Rec. has not given a decent distribution…..What’s the matter? I guess there are other labels interested in UNICORN. What’s happening in Unicorn’ s ‘grazing fields’ at the moment?
MELLOW RECS. are a small label that have specific distribution in small parts of the world. I also believe it is a terrible shame that you can’t find it in the shops, but I don’t really care....if you really want it, you can get it ., try VOICES DISTRIBUTION, BOX 210 212, 28222 BREMEN, GERMANY. (25 DM is the price.)(Ed. VOICES Prod is not distributing anything anymore these days so . . . ) we are currently demo’ing songs at a very rough state. We have gone through songs with working titles like "Why do we have to say goodbye?", "15.36" and I have 4 more songs written. We hope to have a new album out before year 2000.
What about last year’s appearance on THERION’ s Masterpiece "Theli"? (It was a surprise for me!!)
Christofer just asked me if I felt like joining in on vocals one weekend down in Germany and I said yes and that’s basically it. I went to the studio in Hamburg and did the vocals for 1 whole song and maybe 4-6 verses in various tracks. It was a nice experience indeed.
You are (ed. Was.) the producer of loads of excellent and well known bands from Scandinavia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Holland(?!)….Each band has its necessities and I guess all are for some particular sound. What do these bands expect from you ? And in turn what do you expect from them?
I have Greece on my list (Exhumation comes in November), Holland is yet unknown to me though.. There is always 100000000 problems during a recording session. I expect the band to know their songs, know how to play their individual parts in a professional way, know how to tune their instruments and get a short lesson in basic studio performance by some friend or so. I will in return try as hard as I possibly can to fulfil their vision with the semi-profession equipment that I do have!! Mostly I fail, but they don’t seem to care and return and I try a little harder and either it is better or worse than the first time...you never know ..gosh! It will be nice to end it all.
Finally, now that UNISOUND Studios are definitively a memory of the past, How do you look at these days past in the studio recording, mixing etc. ? Any nostalgic thought ?
No, just hate!! I can’t believe that I kept it up for all these years. I was tired of the whole thing before I started making a living out of it, but the only thing that got me going was the great cash, so that I could buy the latest technology without having to take loans and shit. Banks suck!!
I feel like I’ve asked enough now.. Would you like to ask yourself a couple of questions ? hahaha
Why did you have to start messing around with recording? You have spoiled the fun in listening to recording music, all you do listen to how a record is mixed, miked, recorded etc. You always search for mistakes in your productions and all others as well. Before you started out you could listen to any album because of the MUSIC, but now there’s a1000 records you cannot stand before the snare is triggered, or the snare is bleeding hi-hat thru the nisegate, or the ride cymbal is false triggering the gates, or the sound is too compressed, the guitars are too sharp, to low, the bass guitar is having too much 1khz et6c. etc.
The new INFESTDEAD is just out. What's next now, kArAbOuDjAn, Unicorn ?!?
KARABOUDJAN is ready except the TINTIN samples. It turned Tom Nouga is in totally great shape on this recording, playing guitars and Tenor Saxophone like never before, and DR.DARK totally rules with his Baritone Saxophone !
Would you give us a sample of your sense of humour!? …This is the end of the OMEGA HORROR SHOW. Thank you for your precious time.
Thank you for a truly inspiring interview, and good luck.... Here’s a sample of my weird sense of humour!!
(enclosed was a funny hand made drawing. archived)
News. Dan has recently left Edge Of Sanity because he felt that it was not fair for the band to have so much offers to go live, and always miss the opportunities because of Dan’s commitments.
DAN SWANÖ